Perhaps a move out of politics:
Kaine said he doesn’t see a next political office that aligns with his mission of community building.
Something enticing may arise, but when Kaine’s term ends in January 2010, he will focus on a role in racial and ethnic reconciliation…
Interesting. Which begs the question: are politics and community building mutually exclusive? If so, why? Has politics become such a game that getting elected is the only goal?
Governor Kaine’s comments in the Richmond Times-Dispatch article bring up another point that I totally agree with:
Kaine likened the situation [raising money] to having a poll tax for candidates.
“The price of elections is high enough that it excludes an awful lot of good people who might otherwise [run for public office.] It may not be unconstitutional, but it has the same kind of effect.”
I’ve said it before: the only people who can run for office today are folks with money or those with access to money. Not only does it limit the pool of candidates, but it also creates suspicion with the voters, in that so many believe that a candidate must be “on the take” in order to get the money, that it leads them to vote on issues based on the contributor’s wishes as opposed to those of the people.
I don’t have an answer to the money problem. But we need to find one.
Well, I have a few suggestions. First, only citizens can give money to campaigns — not corporations, not union, not PACs, and not foreigners. Second, forget full disclosure. Zero disclosure is the way to go. The money must be sent through a clearinghouse and the candidates cannot know who sent the money.
Posted by Anon E. Mouse | Saturday, September 22, 2007, 10:39 pmThinking about options for Gov. Kaine … I’d ask him to take the job as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Posted by Shawn O'Donnell | Sunday, September 23, 2007, 9:09 am